Mounting device for a disk drive unit, releasable fastener and method of testing a disk drive unit

ABSTRACT

A disk drive unit mounting device is adapted to carry one or plural disk drive units. The mounting device includes a temperature control module and a carrier module secured together y a releasable fastener device so that the temperature control module controls the temperature of the disk drive unit. The temperature control module has an air flow control device for controlling the flow of air across the disk drive unit appropriately according to the required temperature for the disk drive unit. The mounting device may be used in testing disk drive units.

The present invention relates to a mounting device for a disk driveunit, to a releasable fastener and to a method of testing a disk driveunit.

During manufacture of disk drive units, it is necessary to test the diskdrive units to ensure that they meet the required specification. As partof the testing operation, it is necessary to control the temperature ofthe disk drive units. The temperature of the disk drive units is variedacross a wide range during testing. In many known testing apparatus, thetemperature of plural disk drive units is controlled by using cooling orheating air which is common to all of the disk drive units.

In our WO-A-01/41148, the entire content of which is hereby incorporatedby reference, there is disclosed a carrier for a disk drive unit thatenables the temperature of the disk drive unit to be controlled duringtesting or normal operation by the use of a temperature control devicethat causes air at a required temperature to be passed over the diskdrive unit. This arrangement allows the temperature of the disk driveunit to be controlled independently of the temperature of disk driveunits mounted in other carriers in a rack containing plural suchcarriers. While this carrier is valuable, there are certain applicationsin which it has non-optimal performance. First, the structure of thecarrier means that the carrier is dedicated to a particular type andmodel of disk drive unit, and thus the carrier cannot be used for diskdrive units having a different connectivity or configuration. Secondly,in the event of a fault in the carrier itself, the whole carrier must beremoved for repair or replacement. Thirdly, the carrier is specificallyadapted for housing only one disk drive unit at a time, which means thata test device for a number of disk drive units may be undesirably large.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mounting device for a disk drive unit, the mounting device comprising:a carrier module constructed and arranged to receive at least one diskdrive unit, the carrier module having an air input port, the carriermodule being arranged to direct air from the air input port over a diskdrive unit received in the carrier module; a temperature control modulecomprising an air flow control device, the temperature control modulehaving an air output port; and, a connection device for releasablyfastening the carrier module to the temperature control module with theair input port of the carrier module in register with the air outputport of the temperature control module, wherein the temperature controlmodule is arranged to provide air from the air input port forcontrolling the temperature of a said disk drive unit received in thecarrier module to be at a predetermined temperature during operation ofthe disk drive unit.

By providing a temperature control module, which may have a standard orfixed configuration, together with a carrier module matching thatconfiguration, and a connection device for releasably fastening the twotogether, one carrier module may be readily interchanged for another.Thus carrier modules may be provided for different types of disk driveunit. A carrier module for one type of disk drive unit may be readilyremoved from the temperature control module and exchanged for a carriermodule for the same or another type of disk drive unit. Carrier modulesconfigured to simultaneously house two or more disk drive units may beprovided. The device is particularly useful for carrying one or moredisk drive units whilst the or each disk drive unit is being testedduring manufacture, though the device can also be used to carry one ormore disk drive units during normal use of the disk drive units by anend user.

The air flow control device may include an air-moving device such as afan, and/or flow control valves together with a device of devices forsensing the temperature of air in the carrier module. A heater may allowthe air output from the temperature control module to be heated, and acooler may allow that air to be cooled before inlet into the carriermodule to achieve a desired air temperature in the carrier module.

The mounting device enables the temperature of a disk drive unit in thecarrier module to be controlled to be at a predetermined temperatureduring operation of the disk drive unit. It will be understood that, inpractice, the temperature will be controlled to be within certain limitsof a predetermined temperature and the phrase “predeterminedtemperature” shall be construed accordingly.

The mounting device can be located with other similar devices eachcarrying their own respective disk drive units. In that case,embodiments of the present invention in which each carrier module housesonly one disk drive unit allow the temperature of individual disk driveunits to be controlled independently. Other embodiments in which two ormore disk drive units are housed in a single carrier module allow thetemperature of the two or more disk drive units to be controlledtogether. This in turn means that if for example a rack of plural suchmounting devices is being used, disk drive units in the differentmounting devices can be at different temperatures at the same time,which is particularly advantageous when used in a test application inthat it allows for fully independent testing of the disk drive unitsincluding insertion and removal of the disk drive units into respectivecarriers.

The temperature control module comprises an air flow control device forcausing air to flow across a disk drive unit received in the carrier. Aswill be discussed further below, the air can be for cooling or warmingthe disk drive unit and/or for keeping the temperature of the disk driveunit constant.

Preferably the carrier module has an air outlet port and the temperaturecontrol module has an air inlet port, the arrangement being such thatwhen the connection device fastens the carrier module to the temperaturecontrol module the air outlet port of the carrier module is aligned withthe air inlet port of the temperature control module.

By providing an air outlet port of the carrier module aligned with theair inlet port of the temperature control module, embodiments of theinvention allow for air flow to occur all around a disk drive unit andunder controlled conditions. It would of course be possible to exhaustair from the carrier module to the atmosphere, but this has a number ofdisadvantages. For example, in use the disk drive units generate heat,and where air is extracted by the temperature control module rather thanbeing exhausted, this heat can be employed by recirculating the airduring testing to reduce the energy applied by the test device. Anotherexample of a disadvantage of exhausting air is that the control of airflow within the carrier module would be less precise than where apositive extraction occurs.

Advantageously the temperature control module has a fan and is arrangedto selectively recirculate air from the air inlet port to the air outletport.

Recirculation allows for energy to be conserved within the mountingdevice, by preventing heated or cooled air from being fed into afacility containing the mounting device, and thus reduces environmentalloads on that facility.

A heat exchanger may be accessible by the temperature control module forselectively receiving and cooling at least a portion of the air that haspassed over a disk drive unit received in the carrier module thereby toprovide chilled air, the air flow control device being selectivelyoperable to cause air to recirculate directly across a disk drive unitreceived in the carrier module, or to cause at least a portion of theair that has passed over a disk drive unit received in the carrier topass through the heat exchanger to provide chilled air and to cause saidchilled air to flow across a disk drive unit received in the carriermodule, or to cause a mixture of directly recirculated air and chilledair to flow across a disk drive unit received in the carrier module.

The temperature control module may be selectively operable to cause airto cause fresh air from outside the carrier to flow across a disk driveunit received in the carrier, or to cause a mixture of recirculated airand fresh air from outside the carrier to flow across a disk drive unitreceived in the carrier.

Typically, causing air to recirculate across a disk drive unit willcause the temperature of the disk drive unit to rise until heat lossfrom the carrier matches the power consumption of the disk drive unit.Fresh air will normally be at a temperature, which is lower than thetemperature of the disk drive unit and thus will tend to cool the diskdrive unit. Otherwise, a heat exchanger can be used to provide chilledair. The air flow means can be operated to cause a mixture ofrecirculated air and fresh or chilled air to flow across the disk driveunit, allowing for intermediate temperatures to be obtained andmaintained.

The temperature control module may comprise a selectively operableheater in the air flow path to a disk drive unit received in the carriermodule for selectively heating air prior to said air flowing across adisk drive unit received in the carrier module. This allows thetemperature of the disk drive unit to be raised or to be raised morequickly than otherwise.

Preferably the connection device comprises a manually releasable hingepivotally connecting the carrier module and the temperature controlmodule along one edge thereof, and a lever latch for securing thecarrier module to the temperature control module along an edge oppositethe said one edge.

Although other types of manual connect/release connectors are possible,a manual release hinge allows the carrier and temperature controlmodules to be connected together and separated without the need fortools. The hinge function allows embodiments to be created in whichfaces of the modules are not in contact at the time of such connectionand separation. The modules can then be mutually pivoted until the facescome into contact, which facilitates connections to be made betweenthem. The use of a lever latch enables embodiments to be created inwhich the modules are only capable of being locked together when incorrect alignment. The tension of the closed lever latch providesresilience, which urges the faces of the modules together. The use of alever latch also provides a mechanical advantage for drawing togetherthe modules during assembly, and particularly for drawing the electricalconnectors of the device into cooperative engagement.

In disassembling the modules, it is an advantage to provide a controlledforce to disengage the electrical connectors, if possible damage is tobe avoided. In the preferred embodiment, the lever latch furtherprovides this controlled disengaging force.

Preferably, the manually releasable hinge has a pin portion, areceptacle portion and a hook member, the pin portion being secured toand supported substantially parallel to and spaced from a wall of one ofsaid the carrier module and temperature control module, the receptacleportion being formed on the other of the carrier module and thetemperature control module, the receptacle portion being constructed andarranged to engage said pin portion, the receptacle portion having acurved wall for abutment by the pin portion and the receptacle formationdefining an opening such that the pin portion may be brought intoengagement with the curved wall of the receptacle portion via theopening, and the hook member being constructed and arranged to engagethe carrier module and the temperature control module to retain the pinportion in engagement with the curved wall of the receptacle portion.

The particular structure allows a hinge to be made which providesaccurate self-alignment of the two modules, and which thus facilitatesconnection of the carrier module to the temperature control module.

Preferably, the carrier module is constructed and arranged tosimultaneously receive plural disk drive units.

The ability to use the carrier module simultaneously for two or moredisk drive units allows more disk drive units to be accommodated withina certain volume. As two or more disk drive units are subjected to thesame conditions in embodiments of the invention using such carriermodules, this enables the performance of disk drive units to be comparedwith one another.

Advantageously the mounting device has air flow passages for dividingair flow from the output port of the temperature control module forapplication to each of plural disk drive units received in the carriermodule.

Advantageously again the mounting device has air flow passages forcombining the air flow from each of plural disk drive units received inthe carrier module to provide said outlet from the carrier module.

Preferably the passages are arranged to divide the air flow such that itflows in the same direction around each disk drive unit.

Embodiments of the invention that have such passages allow for preciselythe same temperature conditions to be applied to each disk drive.

Preferably the mounting device has a baffle that provides said air flowpassages, the baffle having a first side having at least one opening forreceiving an incoming air flow from the temperature control module, anda second side having plural openings for supplying air to each of pluraldisk drive units received in the carrier module, the baffle having adeflection structure constructed and arranged to divide the incoming airflow between said plural disk drive units.

Preferably again, the second side of the baffle has plural furtheropenings for receiving air from the disk drive units and the first sideof the baffle has at least one opening for passing said air from thedisk drive units to a temperature control module.

Advantageously, at said second side of said baffle, said openings andsaid further openings are interleaved, whereby each of the plural diskdrive units has a similar flow of air.

Advantageously the temperature control module has an electricalconnection device, the carrier module has a first electrical connectorfor engaging a disk drive unit received in the carrier module, and thecarrier module has a second electrical connector arranged to engage theelectrical connection device of the temperature control module when thetemperature control module and the carrier module are fastened together.

In embodiments where plural disk drive units may be simultaneouslyreceived in the carrier module, preferably the temperature controlmodule has an electrical connection device, and the carrier module hasplural first electrical connectors for engaging respective disk driveunits received in the carrier module and a second electrical connectorarranged to engage the electrical connection device of the temperaturecontrol module when the temperature control module and the carriermodule are fastened together.

Where different types of carrier modules are provided, each for adifferent type of disk drive unit, and each different type of disk driveunit has a differently configured or located electrical connectiondevice, preferably the temperature control module has an electricalconnection device, each type of carrier module has a respective firstelectrical connector and disposed and configured to engage each diskdrive unit of a respective type received in the carrier module, and asecond electrical connector arranged to engage the electrical connectiondevice of the temperature control module when the temperature controlmodule and any of said types of carrier module are secured together.

Each of the apparatus described above may comprise a controller forindependent control of the temperature control modules associated withthe disk drive unit carrier modules.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda releasable fastener for fastening together first and second members,the fastener comprising a pin portion for mounting on a first member, areceptacle portion for mounting on a second member and a hook member forengagement with a said first and second member, the receptacle portionbeing constructed and arranged to engage said pin portion, thereceptacle portion having a concave curved wall and defining an openingsuch that the pin portion may be brought into engagement with the curvedwall of the receptacle formation via the opening, and the hook memberbeing constructed and arranged to retain the pin portion engaged withthe curved wall of the receptacle portion.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that the hook member is undertension when engaged with a said first and second member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of testing a disk drive unit in a test device comprising atemperature control module and a carrier module constructed and arrangedto support said disk drive unit, wherein the carrier module has an airinput port and is arranged to direct air from the air input port over asaid disk drive unit received in the carrier module and the temperaturecontrol module comprises an air flow control device and has an airoutput port, the method comprising: releasably fastening the carriermodule to the temperature control module, such that the air input portof the carrier module is in register with the air output port of thetemperature control module; disposing said disk drive unit in saidcarrier module; and, causing the temperature control module to provideair from said air output port to said air input port to control thetemperature of said disk drive unit disposed in the carrier module to beat a predetermined temperature during operation of the disk drive unit.

The method may comprise the step of controlling the flow of air acrossthe disk drive unit to cause air to recirculate directly across the diskdrive unit, or to cause chilled air obtained by passing at least aportion of the air that has passed over the disk drive unit through aheat exchanger to flow across the disk drive unit, or to cause a mixtureof directly recirculating air and chilled air to flow across the diskdrive unit.

The method may comprise the step of, independently for each disk driveunit, controlling the flow of air across the disk drive unit to causeair to recirculate across the disk drive unit, or to cause fresh air toflow across the disk drive unit, or to cause a mixture of recirculatedair and fresh air to flow across the disk drive unit.

In an advantageous embodiment, the temperature control module and thecarrier module each have a respective part of an manual release hingeand the step of releasably fastening comprises engaging the two parts ofa said hinge, mutually pivotally moving the carrier module and thetemperature control module until they abut one another and securing thecarrier module to the temperature control module via a lever latch.

In a preferred embodiment, the carrier module has locations constructedand arranged to simultaneously receive plural disk drive units, and thedisposing step comprises disposing at least two disk drive units inrespective ones of said locations.

Advantageously the method comprises dividing air flow from the outlet ofthe temperature control module and applying a part of said divided airflow to each of plural disk drive units received in the carrier module,and combining the air flow from each of the disk drive units to providesaid outlet from the carrier module.

Preferably the dividing step comprises dividing the air flow such thatit flows in the same direction around each disk drive unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing plural typesof carrier module, each type of module being suitable for a respectiveone of plural different types of disk drive unit.

In some embodiments the temperature control module has an electricalconnection device, the carrier module has a first electrical connectorsecured thereto for engaging a disk drive unit received in the carriermodule, and a second electrical connector arranged to engage theelectrical connection device of the temperature control module when thetemperature control module and the carrier module are secured together,and said step of disposing comprises connecting the electricalconnection device of the disk drive unit to said first electricalconnector.

In preferred embodiments each of said different types of disk drive unithas an electrical connection device which is at least one of differentlydisposed or differently configured to electrical connection devices ofothers of said types of disk drive units, the temperature control modulehas an electrical connection device, each type of carrier module has arespective first electrical connector secured thereto for engaging theelectrical connection device of the corresponding type of disk driveunit received in the carrier module, and a second electrical connectorarranged to engage the electrical connection device of the temperaturecontrol module when the temperature control module and the carriermodule are secured together, and said step of disposing comprisesconnecting the electrical connection device of the disk drive unit tosaid first electrical connector.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example of a mountingdevice for a disk drive unit in accordance with one aspect of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the device of FIG. 1, withparts removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the temperature control module of thedevice of FIG. 1 with covers and parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the connection of aheat exchanger for cooling purposes;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the carrier module of the device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of an interface unit of thedevice of FIG. 1 shown from one side, being the side abutting thetemperature control module;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the interface unit of FIG. 6 shown fromthe other side, being the side for receiving the disk drive units;

FIG. 8 is a cut-away view of the interface unit of FIG. 7 showing theair flow passages;

FIG. 9 a shows the air flow from the interface unit from the temperaturecontrol module side;

FIG. 9 b shows the air flow from the interface unit from the carriermodule side;

FIG. 10 is a partial view of the temperature control module of FIG. 1showing the pin portion of a manual release hinge;

FIG. 11 is a partial view of the carrier module of FIG. 1 showing thereceptacle portion of the manual release hinge;

FIG. 12 is a partial view of the temperature control module of FIG. 1showing the tension strap portion of the manual release hinge; and,

FIG. 13 is a partial view of the temperature control module and carriermodule of FIG. 1 showing an assembled manual release hinge.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mounting device 1 for a disk drive unit has afirst module 2 secured to a second module 3, the two modules 2,3 beingsecured end-to-end. The modules 2,3 are each of box-like constructionand generally of rectangular section. The first module is a temperaturecontrol module 2 and the second is a carrier module 3 for, in thisexample, two disk drive units 102,202 (see FIG. 2) carried in disk driveunit supports 203,204. The carrier module 3 has an air input port 130(see FIG. 5) in the end that engages the temperature control module 2,and includes walls 138-145 (see FIG. 8) forming a baffle defining airflow passages for directing air from the input port 130 over the diskdrive units 102,202 disposed within the carrier module. The temperaturecontrol module 2 includes an air control device, including in thisexample a centrifugal fan 105 (see FIG. 3) and mode controller 260 (seeFIG. 3), and has an air output port 9. The air output port 9 is in therectangular end wall 90 that abuts the carrier module 3. The carriermodule also has a generally rectangular end wall 28, best seen in FIG.5, the arrangement being that the end walls 28,90 sealingly abut oneanother when the modules 2,3 are secured together.

Referring to FIG. 1, the temperature control module 2 also has an airinlet port 111. The carrier module 3 has an air outlet port 131 a-131 c(see FIG. 5), the inlet 111 and outlet 131 a-131 c ports being alignedwhen the modules are secured together.

A connection device secures the modules together in a releasablefashion, so that the air input port 130 is aligned with the air outputport 9. The connection device of this embodiment includes a pair ofmanual release hinges 6 a, 6 b, a pair of tension straps 170 and a pairof lever latches 7. It is desirable to have fastenings that enable rapidconnection and disconnection of the two modules 2,3, preferably withoutthe need for tools, and the connection device of this embodiment allowsthese desiderata to be met.

The temperature control module 2 has a top wall 103 which has formsreceptacle portions 16-7 of the manual release hinges 6 a, 6 b (see FIG.11). The temperature control module 2 also has opposing side walls 15that at their lower front portions define engagement points 77,78 forthe lever latches 7. At the end portions of the side walls 15 of thetemperature control module 2, and above the engagement points 77, 78,the walls 15 have a corrugated portion 19 to enable a reduced thicknessof material to be used.

The carrier module 3 has a top wall 104, which at its rear has pinportions 150-2 (see FIG. 10) of the manually released hinges 6 a, 6 b,as counterpart formations to the receptacle parts in the top wall 103 ofthe temperature control module 2. The top wall 104 of the carrier module3 is engaged by one end of the tension straps 170 which allow linkage ofthe carrier and temperature control modules 2,3. The manually releasedhinges 6 a, 6 b enable releasable fastening of the temperature controlmodule 2 to the carrier module 3, final securing of the two being viathe lever latches 7 at the lower parts of the sides of the two modules2,3. The final securing is under tension of the tension straps, whichthereby prevents vibrations to be prevented.

It would of course be possible to provide instead other connectiondevices, for example aligning pins projecting from one of the modulesand mating holes or recesses in the other, and a clip or latch formaintaining the desired sealing connection.

As will be further described later herein, the temperature controlmodule 2 controls the temperature of the disk drive units 102,202 to beat a predetermined temperature during operation of the disk drive units102,202. Operation of the disk drive unit 102, 202 includes operationduring testing of the disk drive units 102, 202.

As will also be seen in FIG. 5, an interface unit 8 forming the rearwall of the carrier module 3 is provided at the rear of the carriermodule 3. The interface unit 8 allows for electrical connection betweenthe temperature control module 2 and the disk drive units 102,202. Theinterface unit 8 also has the walls 138-145 that define the air passagesfor conducting air between the temperature control module 2 and thesurfaces of the disk drive units 102,202, as will be later describedherein.

The carrier module 3 has mechanical latches 4,5 at the front which canbe released to allow two disk drive units 102,202 to be inserted into orremoved from the carrier module 3. The disk drive units 102,202 willtypically be a complete unit having one or more rotatable magnetic diskson which data can be stored, one or more read/write heads mounted on oneor more read/write arms, at least one motor for moving the arm or arms,and appropriate internal electrical connections. In the describedembodiment used for testing, the mechanical latches 4,5 are operable bya mechanical handling device for loading disk drive units 102,202 fortesting and unloading disk drive units 102,202 when tested.

The location of the disk drive units 102, 202 in the carrier module 3 isbest seen in FIG. 2.

The disk drive units 102,202 are disposed one above the other, and areengaged both mechanically and electrically with the interface unit 8with openings of the interface unit providing air flow over the diskdrive units 102,202. In this embodiment, air flow is in the same sensearound each of the two disk drive units 102,202. To that end theinterface unit has an upper edge 108 over which air flows to the upperside 109 of the upper disk drive unit 102 and a lower recessed edge 120for return of air from the lower surface 210 of the lower disk driveunit 202. There are also three central slots 121-3, of which one 121forms a return for air from the lower surface 110 of the upper diskdrive unit 102. The other two slots 122,123 are disposed side by sideand below the first slot 121 to provide flow over the upper surface 209of the lower disk drive unit 202.

Referring to FIG. 3, the temperature control module 2 is, as haspreviously been described, a generally box-like structure with arectangular section, and has a generally rectangular end wall 90. Thewall 90 defines a generally central slot-like air inlet 111 from theinterface unit 8 of an attached carrier module 3, and in combinationwith the top wall 103, defines an air outlet 9 to such an interface unit8. Below the slot-like air intake 111 is a recess 91, which houseselectrical connectors 113. The electrical connectors 113 are sockets andserve to carry signals from a base unit (not shown) to which the rearface of the temperature control module 2 is mounted, and disk driveunits 102,202 mounted to a carrier module 3 connected to the temperaturecontrol module 3. The base unit may include a support framework forseveral temperature control modules, together with cooling devices,power supplies and test computers. Internally, the temperature controlmodule 2 has an air flow control device that includes a centrifugal fan105 that rotates about a vertical axis in the orientation shown in thedrawings. It would alternatively be possible to use other types of fan,such as an axial fan or indeed a compressor. In the present embodiment,the air flow control device also includes a mode controller 260 whichroutes the air flow differently according to the test conditionsrequired. The mode controller here allows for air to be simplyrecirculated with no added or removed heat, to be recirculated withadded heat or to be cooled by diversion through a cooling device, in themanner described in our patent application WO-A-01/41148. In the presentembodiment, the mode controller is a baffle 260 in the form of anupstanding semi-circular wall which can be pivoted about a vertical axisby a motor 268, also as described in our co-pending patent applicationWO-A-01/41148. However, other devices such as blend doors, or valvescould be used instead.

Although not shown, the temperature control module 2 of the currentlydescribed embodiment, in which the mounting device is used to test diskdrive units 102,202, includes a processing device operated as anembedded processor to run programs that provide testing routines andregimes for disk drive units 102,202 in the associated carrier module 3.This arrangement enables communication between a main processor and theindividual disk drive units 102,202 to be much less than would be neededif the main processor were directly controlling the disk drive units102,202.

The centrifugal fan 105 is contained within a generally circular housing10 which directs the air flow exiting the fan 105 towards an air outputport 9 of the temperature control module 3. The air inlet 111 is to theinlet side of the fan 105, at the centre of its lower side and the fan105 has a generally tangential air outlet 12 at its upper side anddirected towards the air output port 9. A heater coil 112 is disposedacross the fan outlet; the function of this will be later describedherein.

Two portions of a side wall 15 of the temperature control module 2 areabsent towards the rear of the temperature control module 2 to providetwo adjacent openings 16,17 in the side wall 15 at a position near thefan 105. The side wall 15 has a short wall portion 18 between theopenings 16,17 that is directed generally inwardly of the carrier 1towards the fan 105.

As schematically shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 18 is fixed to thetemperature control module 2 over the openings 16,17 in the side wall 15so that air exiting the temperature control module 2 through the frontopening 16 passes through the heat exchanger 18, where the air iscooled, and back into the temperature control module 2 via the rearopening 17.

Referring to FIG. 5, the carrier module 3 has the interface unit 8 atits rear, the interface unit 8 together with the upper wall 104 defininga slot-shaped opening 130 into the interface unit 8 for air from anassociated temperature control module 3. Three generally rectangularapertures 131 a-131 c forming an air outlet are disposed across thecentre line of the rear wall of the interface unit 8 so as to line upwith the slot 111 of a temperature control module, which it will berecalled extracts air. The apertures 131 a-131 c comprise a centralaperture 131 a, which as will be described later herein conducts airwhich has passed over the top disk drive unit 102, and two sideapertures 131 b, 131 c, which as will be later described herein conductair that has passed over the lower disk drive unit 202. The centralaperture 131 a is disposed on and about a vertical axis of symmetry ofthe carrier module 3, and the side apertures 131 b, 131 c are disposedat the same level as the central aperture 131 a, but to each side of it.

As best seen in FIGS. 1,2 and 5, each lever latch 7 has a lever member71 pivotally secured via a pivot 72 to the lower rear edge of thecarrier module 3. The lever member 71 can rotate freely on its pivot 72.The lever member has an elongate straight portion 73 which extends atone end into a curved portion 75 that contains a hole 106 forcooperation with the pivot 72 into a nose portion 74. The nose portion74 is disposed in the plane of the straight portion 73 but transverse tothe extent of the straight portion 73. The straight portion 73 iseccentric of the pivot 72. The straight portion 73 extends from thepivot 72 by about five times the extent of the nose portion 74, to givea mechanical advantage in use. The lever member 71 cooperates with asocket 76 on the lower front edge of the temperature control module 2.The socket 76 has a curved wall 77 extending to a downward-facing notch78 for receiving the nose portion 74.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the interface unit 8 is an assembly of firstand second printed circuit boards 28, 29 spaced apart by a structure 138which has the walls 138-145 that define air passages through theinterface unit. Releasable electrical connection between the first andsecond printed circuit boards 28, 29 is made via a plug and socketarrangement 30 disposed between corresponding edges of the boards 28,29. The plug device 31 projects from the second circuit board 29 and theplug device 32 is secured to the first printed circuit board 28. Whereit is desirable to operate or test different types of disk drive uniteach requiring a different type of second printed circuit board, the useof the plug and socket arrangement 30 enables easy interchange betweenthe different types of second printed circuit board, providing each typeis fitted with compatible plug devices 32. The first printed circuit 28defines the apertures 131 a-131 c and part of the slot 130, and also haselectrical connection devices 132 to allow electrical signals to beconveyed to and from disk drive units engaged with the second printedcircuit board 29. The connection devices 132 in the described embodimentare plug-type devices that connect to the counterpart sockets 113 of thetemperature control module 3.

Referring to FIG. 7, the front face of the second printed circuit board29 defines the openings 108, 120-3 described previously herein withrespect to FIG. 2. The second printed circuit board 29 also has twoelectrical sockets 134, 135, one above the other, for electricalconnection of the disk drive units 102,202. First 136 and second 137pairs of support pins are disposed approximately level with the sockets134, 135 for supporting the disk drive units.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the structural member 138 consists of agenerally rectangular frame having two opposing short side walls 140,141and two opposing long cross walls 142,143. The top cross wall 142 isslightly inset from the top of the side walls 140,141, so as to form thefirst air delivery passage 108. It has a leading knife-edge 146 forsplitting incoming air into two parts, one directed upwardly and onedownwardly. A bridge piece 144 crosses the frame about one-third of theway down the side walls 140,141. The bridge piece 144 divides the frameinto two parts, an upper part through which air has flows forwardly intothe paper as shown, and a lower part through which air flows out of thepaper as shown. The upper part has a V shaped deflecting wall 145 todirect the part of the air deflected downwardly by the knife edge 146once again downwardly and out of the second and third slots 122,123. Thewall of the bridge piece 144 is shaped so as evenly to distribute thisair across the slots 122, 123.

The bridge piece 144 has a central passage 147 that directly connectsthe slot 120 with the centre aperture 131 a. The bridge portion 144 alsodefines between itself and the lower cross wall 143 a chamber 149 whichopens through the first printed circuit board 28 as outer apertures 131b, 131 c and, through the second printed circuit board, as the slot 121.The shape of the bridge portion 144 and of the various apertures andwalls is determined to give even flows across two identical disk driveunits.

The flows are more clearly seen in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. In these figures,flow to the upper disk drive unit is referenced 150, and that to thelower disk drive unit 151. The return flow from the upper disk driveunit is referenced 152, and from the lower disk drive unit 153.Referring again to FIG. 2 shows the flows with the two disk drive units102,202 in place.

Typically, different types of disk drive unit will require one or bothof different electrical sockets 134,135 and different air flow passages.This can be achieved by either changing the second printed circuit boardalone, or by also changing the structural member 138 and the associatedbaffle.

Turning now to FIG. 10, as has previously been mentioned, the top wall104 of the carrier module 3 is generally planar, and has formationswhich form the pin portions 150-2 of manually released hinges 6 a, 6 b.Two side wall portions 150,151 stand up from the top wall 104 andproject out from the edge of the top wall 104 to define a channeltherebetween. The channel has a base wall 152 between the side wallportions 150,151 which rises from the top wall 104 and has a distalportion which is parallel to and raised from the top wall 104. Thedistal end of the base wall 152 extends into a pin portion 153, whosewall follows a circular-cylindrical contour. The pin portion 153 has alongitudinal axis at least substantially parallel to the plane of thetop wall 104, and raised with respect to that plane. The distal ends ofthe side wall portions 150,151 extend via waist regions 154 into the pinportion 153, whose axial length is substantially the spacing between theside walls 150,151. The waist regions 154 are thinner than the base wallthickness and thus the pin wall extends angularly further around the pinportion 153 in the end regions of the pin portion 153 than in thecentral region. At the proximal end of the base wall 152, there is aslot 155 in the top wall 104 to allow insertion of the tension strap170.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the receptacle portions 160-7 of the manuallyreleasable hinges will now be described. The edge region 163 of the topwall 103 of the temperature control module 2 has walls 160,161 thatstand perpendicularly up from the plane of the wall 103. The walls160,161 are in positions along the temperature control module 2 whichcorrespond to the position of the walls 150,151 of the pin portion 153on the carrier module 3, and are spaced by substantially the same amountas the spacing of the walls 150,151. The top wall 103 forms a recess 164in the edge. The recess 164 has a width for receiving the pin portion153, and a surface 165 which has a first convex curved portion 166extending into a circular concave portion 167. The convex curved portionis for leading a pin portion 153 into engagement with the circularconcave portion 167 and extends from a start point at around half thethickness of the wall 103 to an end point inset further from the edgeand below the top surface of the top wall 103 by around one third thewall thickness. The circular concave portion 167 extends from the endpoint by substantially 180 degrees to the surface of the top wall 103,so as to provide a pivot for the pin portion 153. The walls 160, 161extend somewhat over the sides of the circular concave portion 167 atthe level of the surface of the wall 104 to define housing notches whichserve to prevent the pin portion from disengaging from the circularconcave portion 167.

Inset from the edge 163 and beyond the walls 160, 161 an aperture 168 isformed in the top wall 103 for receiving the end of a tension strap 170.

FIG. 12 shows a tension strap 170 engaged in the slot 155 of the topwall 104 of the carrier module 3. The tension strap 170 is of plasticsmaterial, and consists of a thin straight bar portion 171 extending at afirst end into a first hook portion 172 which engages in the slot 155.The other end of the bar portion of the tension strap extends into asecond hook portion 173, which is more sharply radiussed than the firsthook portion 172. The second hook portion 173 comes into a grippingengagement with the edge of the aperture 168 during rotation of thecarrier module 3 as will be further described below. The strap 170 has awidth for passing between the upstanding walls 150, 151 of the carriermodule 3 and the walls 160, 161 of the temperature control module 3.

In the embodiment, the length of the pin portion 153 is such as toprovide a sliding fit between the sides of the recess 164 and thetension strap width is such as to provide a sliding fit between thewalls 150,151 and 160, 161. This ensures that the carrier module 3 andtemperature control module 2 are self-aligned.

To assemble the temperature control and carrier modules 2,3 thetemperature control module 2 is supported substantially vertically withthe air output port 9 and air inlet port 111 facing up and thereceptacle portions 160-167 of the manually-releasable hinges 6 a, 6 btowards the operator. The carrier module 3 is lowered more or less inline with the axis of the temperature control module 2 until the pinportions 150-4 of the manually-releasable hinges 6 a, 6 b engage withthe hinge receptacle portions 160-7.

The carrier module 3 is then pivoted towards the operator until thetension straps 170 engage their slots 168. Next the carrier module 3 isrotated away from the operator until the latch lever members 71 aredisposed with the noses 74 engaging in the notches 78. At this point theoperator turns the latch lever members about their pivots 72 to pull thetwo modules 2,3 together. Once this is done the straight parts 73 of thelevers are disposed within the envelope of the carrier module 3. Theassembly of the two modules 2,3 is then secured to a base unit andextends substantially horizontally.

FIG. 13 shows the hinge and tension straps in the connected state.During this assembly process, the electrical connections between plugs132 and sockets 113 are made, and due to the method of connection,substantially no side forces are exerted on the plugs or sockets. Oncethe assembly is completed, the air inlet 111 and outlet 9 of thetemperature control module 2 and the apertures 131 a-131 c and slot 130of the carrier module 3 are aligned in register with one another. Thewall around the inlet and outlet of the temperature control module 2 andthe wall around the apertures 131 a-131 c and slot 130 of the carriermodule 3 are urged together by the action of the tension straps 170 andthe lever latches 7 to prevent leakage of air. The connection betweenthe two modules 2,3 is easily made and released, but once in thefastened state, the modules are secured together with a high degree ofrigidity.

To mutually separate the two modules 2,3, the assembly is removed fromthe base unit and the operator then rotates the straight parts 73 of thelever latches, counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 1. The straight parts 73move out of the envelope of the carrier module 3, and noses 74 are urgedagainst the rear wall of the notches 78, to separate the two modules.This technique allows a controlled separation force to be exertedbetween the two modules while the hinge connection remains made.

In operation of the support device for testing, the disk drive units aretypically operated with a range of different voltage levels, and at arange of different temperatures while monitoring drive performance. Forsome tests, the dissipation of the drive unit or units provides the heatneeded, and for these tests the air flow is simply recirculated. Wherehigher temperatures are needed, the air at the output of the temperaturecontrol module 2 is heated by activating the heater coil 112. Where itis desired to operate at sub-ambient temperatures or temperatures belowthat achieved by direct recirculation, the air is fed through thecooling heat exchanger 18.

In the described embodiment, the embedded processor provides powersupply conditioning to yield the different voltage levels, and providescontrol of the temperature regimes while monitoring performance. To dothis, program data are loaded in from a main processor, and the embeddedprocessor then needs to report only faults and exceptions.

Once a test run is completed on disk drive units 102,202 an automatichandler extracts the disk drive units 102,202 from the carrier module 3and loads new drive units 102,202 for testing.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described with particularreference to the examples illustrated. However, it will be appreciatedthat variations and modifications may be made to the examples describedwithin the scope of the present invention.

1. A mounting device for a disk drive unit, the mounting devicecomprising: a carrier module constructed and arranged to receive atleast one disk drive unit, the carrier module having an air input port,the carrier module being arranged to direct air from the air input portover a disk drive unit received in the carrier module; a temperaturecontrol module comprising an air flow control device, the temperaturecontrol module having an air output port; and, a releasable fastener forreleasably fastening the carrier module to the temperature controlmodule with the air input port of the carrier module in register withthe air output port of the temperature control module, wherein thetemperature control module is arranged to provide air to said air inputport for controlling the temperature of a said disk drive unit receivedin the carrier module to be at a predetermined temperature duringoperation of the disk drive unit.
 2. A mounting device according toclaim 1, wherein the carrier module has an air outlet port and thetemperature control module has an air inlet port, the arrangement beingsuch that when the releasable fastener fastens the carrier module to thetemperature control module the air outlet port of the carrier module isin register width with the air inlet port of the temperature controlmodule.
 3. A mounting device according to claim 2, wherein thetemperature control module has a fan and is arranged to recirculate airfrom the air outlet port of the carrier module to the air output port ofthe temperature control module.
 4. A mounting device according to claim1, wherein the releasable fastener comprises a manually releasable hingepivotally connecting the carrier module and the temperature controlmodule along one edge of the carrier module and the temperature controlmodule and a lever latch for securing the carrier module to thetemperature control module along an edge of the carrier module andtemperature control module opposite the said one edge.
 5. A mountingdevice according to claim 4, wherein the manually releasable hinge has apin portion, a receptacle portion and a hook member, the pin portionbeing secured to and supported substantially parallel to and spaced froma wall of one of said the carrier module and temperature control module,the receptacle portion being formed on the other of the carrier moduleand the temperature control module, the receptacle portion beingconstructed and arranged to engage said pin portion, the receptacleportion having a curved wall for abutment by the pin portion and thereceptacle formation defining an opening such that the pin portion maybe brought into engagement with the curved wall of the receptacleportion via the opening, and the hook member being constructed andarranged to engage the carrier module and the temperature control moduleto retain the pin portion in engagement with the curved wall of thereceptacle portion.
 6. A mounting device according to claim 1, whereinthe carrier module is constructed and arranged to simultaneously receiveplural disk drive units.
 7. A mounting device according to claim 6,comprising air flow passages arranged to divide air flow from the outputport of the temperature control module for application to each of pluraldisk drive units received in the carrier module.
 8. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 6, having air flow passages arranged to combine theair flow from each of plural disk drive units received in the carriermodule to provide a single air flow from the carrier module.
 9. Amounting device according to claim 7, wherein the passages are arrangedto divide the air flow such that air flows in the same direction aroundeach disk drive unit.
 10. A mounting device according to claim 7,comprising a baffle that provides said air flow passages, the bafflehaving a first side having at least one opening for receiving anincoming air flow from the temperature control module, and a second sidehaving plural openings for supplying air to each of plural disk driveunits received in the carrier module, the baffle having a deflectionstructure constructed and arranged to divide the incoming air flowbetween said plural disk drive units.
 11. A mounting device according toclaim 10, wherein the second side of the baffle has plural furtheropenings for receiving air from that has flowed over plural disk driveunits received in the carrier module, and the first side of the bafflehas at least one opening for passing said air to the temperature controlmodule.
 12. A mounting device for disk drive units according to claim11, wherein at said second side of said baffle, said openings and saidfurther openings are interleaved, whereby each of the plural disk driveunits has a similar flow of air.
 13. A mounting device for disk driveunits according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control module hasan electrical connection device, the carrier module has a firstelectrical connector for engaging a disk drive unit received in thecarrier module, and the carrier module has a second electrical connectorarranged to engage the electrical connection device of the temperaturecontrol module when the temperature control module and the carriermodule are fastened together.
 14. A mounting device for disk drive unitsaccording to claim 1, wherein the temperature control module has anelectrical connection device, and the carrier module has plural firstelectrical connectors for engaging respective disk drive units receivedin the carrier module and a second electrical connector arranged toengage the electrical connection device of the temperature controlmodule when the temperature control module and the carrier module arefastened together.
 15. A releasable fastener for fastening togetherfirst and second members, the fastener comprising a pin portion formounting on a first member, a receptacle portion for mounting on asecond member and a hook member for engagement with a said first andsecond member, the receptacle portion being constructed and arranged toengage said pin portion, the receptacle portion having a concave curvedwall and defining an opening such that the pin portion may be broughtinto engagement with the curved wall of the receptacle formation via theopening, and the hook member being constructed and arranged to retainthe pin portion engaged with the curved wall of the receptacle portion.16. A releasable fastener according to claim 15, wherein the arrangementis such that the hook member is under tension when engaged with a saidfirst and second member.
 17. A method of testing a disk drive unit in atest device comprising a temperature control module and a carrier moduleconstructed and arranged to support said disk drive unit, wherein thecarrier module has an air input port and is arranged to direct air fromthe air input port over a said disk drive unit received in the carriermodule and the temperature control module comprises an air flow controldevice and has an air output port, the method comprising: releasablyfastening the carrier module to the temperature control module, suchthat the air input port of the carrier module is in register with theair output port of the temperature control module; disposing said diskdrive unit in said carrier module; and, causing the temperature controlmodule to provide air to said air input port to control the temperatureof said disk drive unit disposed in the carrier module to be at apredetermined temperature during operation of the disk drive unit.
 18. Amethod of testing a disk drive unit according to claim 17, comprisingthe step of controlling the flow of air across the disk drive unit tocause air to recirculate directly across the disk drive unit, or tocause chilled air obtained by passing at least a portion of the air thathas passed over the disk drive unit through a heat exchanger to flowacross the disk drive unit, or to cause a mixture of directlyrecirculating air and chilled air to flow across the disk drive unit.19. A method of testing a disk drive unit according to claim 17, whereinthe temperature control module and the carrier module each have arespective part of a manual release hinge and the step of releasablyfastening comprises engaging the two parts of the hinge, mutuallypivotally moving the carrier module and the temperature control moduleuntil they abut one another and securing the carrier module to thetemperature control module via a lever latch.
 20. method of testing adisk drive unit according to claim 17, wherein the carrier module haslocations constructed and arranged to simultaneously receive plural diskdrive units, and the disposing step comprises disposing at least twodisk drive units in respective ones of said locations.
 21. A method oftesting a disk drive unit according to claim 17, comprising dividing airflow from the outlet of the temperature control module and applying apart of said divided air flow to each of plural disk drive unitsreceived in the carrier module, and combining the air flow from each ofthe disk drive units to provide said outlet from the carrier module. 22.A method of testing a disk drive unit according to claim 21, wherein thedividing step comprises dividing the air flow such that it flows in thesame direction around each disk drive unit.
 23. A method of testing adisk drive unit according to claim 17, comprising providing plural typesof carrier module, each type of module being suitable for a respectiveone of plural different types of disk drive unit.
 24. A method oftesting a disk drive unit according to claim 17, wherein the temperaturecontrol module has an electrical connection device, the carrier modulehas a first electrical connector secured thereto for engaging a diskdrive unit received in the carrier module, and a second electricalconnector arranged to engage the electrical connection device of thetemperature control module when the temperature control module and thecarrier module are secured together, and said step of disposingcomprises connecting the electrical connection device of the disk driveunit to said first electrical connector.
 25. A method of testing a diskdrive unit according to claim 24, wherein each of said different typesof disk drive unit has an electrical connection device which is at leastone of differently disposed or differently configured to electricalconnection devices of others of said types of disk drive units, thetemperature control module has an electrical connection device, eachtype of carrier module has a respective first electrical connectorsecured thereto for engaging the electrical connection device of thecorresponding type of disk drive unit received in the carrier module,and a second electrical connector arranged to engage the electricalconnection device of the temperature control module when the temperaturecontrol module and the carrier module are secured together, and saidstep of disposing comprises connecting the electrical connection deviceof the disk drive unit to said first electrical connector.